Astro’n’out “Urda”

Riga-based Astro’n’out knows how to make catchy and melodic popmusic.

Their fifth studio album “Urda” is full of honest and smooth tunes, but the overall feeling responds to all the emotions a person possess – from melancholic mood to joyous sounds that make you want to dance.

Auļi un Tautumeitas “Lai māsiņa rotājās”

Experienced Latvian pipe and drum band Auļi and rather fresh all female ethno ensemble Tautumeitas have teamed up to record “Lai māsiņa rotājās!”, one of the most stunning ethno music albums of the year, where soft but powerful female voices blend with rhythmical and vigorous sound of pipes and drums.

These are traditional Latvian folk songs about love and marriage brought to the 21st century – with a somewhat feminist approach.

Instrumenti “Atkala”

One of the best Latvian bands Instrumenti doesn’t fit into particular music genre because their musical scope varies from experimental electropop to minimalism, but aesthetics and mood can be provocatively aggressive or calmly contemplating.

“Atkala” is a bit different from Instrumenti previous work because the band musically and intellectually have come to the point where content dominates over form, but emotions overcome reason.

Linda Leen “Digital Church”

Experienced singer songwriter Linda Leen is always changing but with her latest album “Digital Church” Linda has came closer to the nature of meaningful popmusic and herself as a musician.

In the album her aesthetics is more integrated, radically changing sounds and moods are more powerful and personal, but the stories she tells are more focused and precise. This is not just a good popmusic album but also intimate insight into Lindas’ world.

Various artists “Mūsu dziesmas 2.0”

Compilation “Our Songs 2.0” is one of the grandest events in Latvia of the year 2017. Firstly, applaudable is the initiative of Museum of Latvian Literature and Music to invite young Latvian composers and musicians to make their own versions of iconic Latvian songs from folkmusic, choir music and popmusic repertoire.

Secondly, the result is stunning because these old, beloved and in a way banal songs with a great symbolic value has been remade into original compositions that sounds very contemporary.

This compilation also gives insight into the aesthetics of modern Latvian music.